Tarentum taxes expected to remain steady, but utilities will rise

Tarentum residents likely won’t see a property tax increase in 2024 after council approved the borough’s preliminary budget Tuesday.

But electric and garbage collection bills are expected to rise.

Supply costs for the borough’s electrical distribution system are set to nearly double, meaning the price hike will be funneled to borough electric rates.

Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said the tax rate is expected to remain 5.48 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would again pay $548.

If the final budget is approved in December, it would be the 20th year without a tax hike in the borough.

Boddorf said the budget prioritizes infrastructure maintenance and commitment to improving long-term financial stability.

“This budget reflects our commitment to providing a broad range of services effectively and efficiently,” Boddorf said. “Everything from maintaining local roads, stormwater systems and utilities to providing public safety, recreation and other services was evaluated during budget preparations.”

Tarentum is among 35 municipalities in the state that operate their own electrical distribution systems. The borough purchases electricity wholesale and delivers it to about 2,500 customers, with profits used to supplement general fund operations.

Boddorf recommended to council a five-year plan that would provide more price stability over the life of the supply contract.

“The overall strategy is to raise prices incrementally, whether water, trash or electric. (This) is instead of drastic price increases every couple of years,” he said.

“We are seeing our peers’ prices rise up to 42% in some cases because of the energy market,” Boddorf said. “Making those incremental increases annually helps prevent such a drastic cost increase. The same goes for waste (garbage collection) services.”

Despite the price increase, the borough’s electric distribution system enables it to implement infrastructure and economic development projects that otherwise would be difficult to accomplish without it, Boddorf said.

The garbage hauling charge for residents is expected to increase from $25 to $29 a month.

Commercial prices will remain $35 a month.

A new contract with Waste Management sees prices rising slightly each year, and Boddorf said he wants council to follow suit, as that would provide more consistency for residents and the borough.

Residents can look forward to several potential capital improvement projects next year. They include a traffic signal upgrade at Freeport Road and Grantham Street, riverfront planning, records digitization and ADA ramp installations.

The borough’s main goal is to upgrade its failing water system, where 90% of the pipes are 100 years old.

Council has applied for about $4 million in grants to replace some of the 14 miles of lines which frequently need to be repaired.